Suspended seating structure



July 20, 1965 A. E. MIX

SUSPENDED SEATING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 14, 1964 55 5| 4| 0 K36 Cr: INVENTOR.

ALBERT E. MIX 39 33 FIG.2

Y O B ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,195,949 SUSPENDED SEATING STRUCTURE Albert E. Mix, 2767 Clayhourne Circle, Salt Lake City, Utah Filed Sept. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 396,432 8 Claims. (Cl. 297-440) The present invention relates to suspended seating constructions for tables, desks and the like, and, more particularly, to a new and improved suspended seating construction which may be easily arised all of the way underneath the table and, alternatively, lowered and extended for seating, so that a minimum space is utilized for the seating, attached storage is facilitated underneath the table, and the seating need not be supported by legs or other depending support.

. Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide new and improved seating construction for tables, cabinets, bars, desks, and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique, extensible and upwardly foldable seating construction, suspended from tables and the like, wherein all of the construction linkage is disposed within and operated in a vertical plane.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable seating construction wherein the same may be disposed compietely underneath the table and out of the way, as desired.

A further object is to provide a unique linkage and leverage system for suspended seating constructions which is simple to operate, easy to manufacture, and versatile 1n use.

An additional object is to take advantage of the principle of mechanical over-toggling in a unique table support linkage, wherein seating may be dropped and drawn outwardly or, alternatively, raised inwardly underneath the table to meet desired conditions wherein space is at a premium and floor support of seating construction is not to be used.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a suspended seating construction embodying the principles of the present invention, with the table incorporating the same indicated in phantom line and a second position of the seating indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom View of the seating of FIG- URE 1 when the same is in its lowered and extended condition.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective in reduced scale, looking down, and partially broken away for convenience of illustration, of a table incorporating the seating construction of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1; it illustrates a seating construction in its raised condition underneath the table and retained in place by a flat spring latch, for example.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view principally in section, taken along the line 55 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged section taken along the line S 6-6 in FIGURE 3, is fragmentary, and is partially rotated for convenience of illustration.

, FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary detail taken along the line 77 of the knuckled joint, the pivot journal construction of the two, seat-support arms and the link of the leverage construction in the invention.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a table having edge E and parallel cross members 11 and 12 disposed transversely on the underside of the table and, for example, comprising the side flanges of a channel 13. Spaced angle irons disposed back to back might equally be used, as well as other equivalent structure. Aligned apertures 13 and 14, 15 and 16, see FIGURES 5 and 6, are provided in cross-members 11 and 12 for the positioning of bushings 19 and 20 as indicated. Journal bosses 18 and 17 are aligned and welded to or otherwise formed with members 11 and 12. Pins 21 and 22 with their respective retainers 23 and 24 are likewise provided within the respective bushings 19 and 20 as shown. This supplies pivot journals for strut 25 and link 26 by virtue of the latters inclusion of journal knuckles 27 and 28 respectively. Other types of pivot journals might reasonably be employed, or the pivot journals themselves substituted or made equivalent.

The lower extremity of strut 25 is supplied with a knuckle 30. Correspondingly, journal bosses 34 and 35 are aligned therewith and receive pivot pin 33. Journal bosses 34 and 35 are welded or otherwise secured at medial points to seat support arms 36 and 37 to constitute pivot fulcrum F; the support arms 36 and 37 are a composite, L-configured lever means L having an upstanding portion U and a horizontal portion H. Support arms 36 and 37 have their rearward end extremities 38 and 39 riveted, screwed or otherwise attached at 4%) and 41 to seat 42.

The lower extremity of link 26, as shown in FIGURE 7, is supplied with a knuckle boss 48, and the upper extremities 49 and 50 of the respective support arms 36 and 37 are provided with journal bosses 54 and 55, with pivot pin 51 and its retainer 52 securing the knuckle 48 and bosses 54 and 55 in aligned condition.

Preferably, there is secured to the table top 43 of table 16, by means of a screw or a simple rivet 44 a fiat, spring latch 45, the same being contoured to latchingly engage the knuckle 48, or conceivably either of the bosses 54, 55, to retain the seat assembly in its uppermost condition as shown in FIGURE 4.

In operation, the suspension seating of the invention may be described at its respective positions as follows. The load supporting position for the seat 42 is illustrated in FIGURE 3. Thus, when the seating is at its lowermost horizontal position as shown in FIGURE 3, one may sit upon the same and straddle with his legs the central construction consisting of strut 25 and support arms 36 and 37. Of course, it will be understood that the seat might conceivably be supported off-center so that both legs will be situated on the same side of the supported structure. In any event, it will be noted that since journal bosses 34 and 35 are welded to medial points along the undersurfaces of support arms 36 and 37, that the journal axis A remains fixed relative to support arms 36 and 37. The purpose for inclusion of strut 25 is not only to limit the downward movement of seat 42 but also to serve as a stop abutment for the link-lever means at 51. It will be noted in FIGURE 3 that strut 25 is in fact braced and held in place by the knuckle 48 of link 26. In effect, there is a force couple, with the link knuckle 48 pressing in direction X, the force of gravity of a person sitting on the seat 42 urging the same in direction Y, but with the combination load of the couple being taken up by strut 25 and its journal between crossmembers 11 and 12. Of importance is the fact that the link 26 in the combination of seat support arms 36 and 3'7 is over-toggled, as indicated in FIGURE 3, and braced by hearing engagement with strut 25 in order for the seat to be stationary and rigid, for supporting a person. Tend encies of the strut 25 to over-power the over-toggling effect are counter-balanced'bythe fixed pivoting of strut to journal bosses 34 and35.'

25 at its upper end and the pressure of seat 42 applied 7 FIGURE 1 illustrates thatlsimplyby lifting the'seat.

42, one may overcome. th'e'fove'r-toggle p'res'ent 'in the linkage and urge the same upwardlysothat the 'positlo'n 7 shown in FIGURE 1 'is changed tothat shownfin FIG- ,URE 4. When the desired height is; reachedlthe pivot structure of link'Zfi and 'sea't'support arms 31-6 and 37-- come in 'contactwith and are retenL velyengaged by the contoured flatspring latch 45.

Subsequently, it is an easy matter for the user simply to pull-downwardly and outwardly on the seat 42 in FIG URE 4 in order to release the structure from the spring latch and cause a downwardly andoutwardly descent 15 until the position shown in FIGURE 3 is reached. It is noted that all pivot axes A -A are mutually parallel and horizontal, and that the linkage system oper .ates in a vertical plane.

a While particular embodiments of the'present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the-aim in the appended .claimst'is to cover all such changes and modifica-f tions as fall within the true spirit and'scope of this inven: tion. I

- I claim: r':

1. Asuspended seating constructionincluding, in corn 1 fbination, support lever means having a medial pivottula crum, a pivot extremity disposed on one'side of said pivot fulcrum,and a seat attachment extremity,;dispos'ed. one the opposite side of said pivot fulcrum; a seat integral with said seat attachment extre'mity'of said lever means, a

link including a lower extremity pivotally secured to said pivot extremity of said leverme-ans at a mutual pivot journal and constructed for pivotal securement to and underneath an external, horizontal member; and'a strut having a first extremity pivotally secured to said pivot fulcrum of said lever means and a second extremity constructed for pivot-a1 securement to said horizontal member forwardlyof said link, the pivot axes of said lever means, link, and strut being horizontal and mutually parallel, said lever means and link being constructed and arranged for over-toggling attheir mutual pivot journal and for abutting engagement .in such condition 'with'said strut when said seat is in its loadesupporting position.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein saidlever" means is-L-configured, having an outermost'horizontal portion and an innermost, upstanding portion, said portions mutually joining together proximate said pivot-fulcrurn. V I 3. Structure according to claim '2 whereln said lever meanscomprise a pair of mutually spaced, seat support arms, said link beingpivotally journaled therebetween.

4. Structure according to claim Z Wherein. said lever means has an upper bifurcated portion pivotally secured,

to said first extremity of said link.

' pivot fulcrum, and afseat attachment extremity disposed on the opposite :side of said pivot fulcrum; a seat integral with. said seat attachment extremity of said lever means; a link constructed for pivotal securement to and between said lever means pivot extremity and said transverse journaling means; and astrut constructed for 'pivotal' securement to and between said pivot fulcrum of sa1d support lever means and said transverse .journaling 'means, between said link and said longitudinal table edge, the pivot axes .of said lever means, link and strut being horizontal and mutu'ally parallel, said; lever means and link being constr-ucted and arranged for over-toggling at theirrnutual pivot journal andfo'r abutting engagement, when over-toggled, with'said.strut when said seat ;is in its load-supporting position. i

6.,Structure according to'cl'aim 5 wherein. said trans- :verse jou'rnalin'g' means comprise parallel, mutually spaced depending member mean's'transversely afiixed to 1 the und-ersid'er'of said table, said link and strut being pivotally secured therebetween, and ,said s'trut'being disposed between said link and said tableedgelat its pivotal jourjnaling tosaid transversejonrnaling rneans. 1.

7. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said 'tabl V includes alatch afiixed'totheundefside thereof and con- 7 structed for releasable securernentwith at'least one of said link and said support lever meansgf 8. Structure "accordingto claim 7 wherein said latch comprises a contoured, flat spring latch}:

ReferencesyCited -bythe Examiner I 7 V "UNITED SIAITESPATENTS 239,862 i 1/59 Great Britain 807,772 FRANK t a-aims Examiner- 

1. A SUSPENDED SEATING CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, SUPPORT LEVER MEANS HAVING A MEDIAL PIVOT FULCRUM, A PIVOT EXTREMITY DISPOSED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID PIVOT FULCRUM, AND A SEAT ATTACHMENT EXTREMITY DISPOSED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PIVOT FULCRUM; A SEAT INTEGRAL WITH SAID SEAT ATTACHMENT EXTREMITY OF SAID LEVER MEANS, A LINK INCLUDING A LOWER EXTREMITY PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID PIVOT EXTREMITY OF SAID LEVER MEANS AT A MUTUAL PIVOT JOURNAL AND CONSTRUCTED FOR PIVOTAL SECUREMENT TO AND UNDERNEATH AN EXTERNAL, HORIZONTAL MEMBER; AND A STRUT HAVING A FIRST EXTREMITY PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID PIVOT FULCRUM OF SAID LEVER MEANS AND A SECOND EXTREMITY CONSTRUCTED FOR PIVOTAL SECUREMENT TO SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBER FORWARDLY OF SAID LINK, THE PIVOT AXES OF SAID LEVERL BER FORWARDLY OF SAID LINK, THE PIVOT AXES OF SAID LEVER PARALLEL, SAID LEVER MEANS AND LINK BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED FOR OVER-TOGGLING AT THEIR MUTUAL PIVOT JOURNAL AND FOR ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT IN SUCH CONDITION WITH SAID STRUT WHEN SAID SEAT IS IN ITS LOAD-SUPPORTING POSITION. 